I went to Sam's this afternoon to pick up giant-sized versions of the necessities. I parked in a normal spot facing a Cadillac Escalade... a guy was loading items in the back while his wife was sitting in the driver's seat. Before I had time to even get out of my truck the Escalade lurched forward and SMASHED INTO MY TRUCK!

My first thought was "SON OF A BITCH!" My next thought was, "I JUST installed a billet grill YESTERDAY!" (The same one that's on the truck in the TW banner.) Then, again... "SON OF A BITCH!"

For the life of me I can't figure out why the car was on AND IN GEAR! Can somebody please explain that to me? She wasn't about to drive (her husband was still loading stuff) and I had just pulled in, so she was going to have to drive in reverse anyway. Why in the F*** was the car in DRIVE?

Here's the WOW part: I get out and walk around to the front... the Caddy's pointed bumper hit my truck directly on the Alabama A front license plate. There's a slight crack in the plate, but NO OTHER DAMAGE TO THE TRUCK! Their stupid-ass Caddy, on the other hand, might need a new bumper. About a quarter-size spot on the tip of their bumper has no paint and is visibly damaged, and (more importantly) the bumper cracked from top to bottom.

I'm more and more impressed with this truck every day (not to mention less impressed with GM products today).

I have their insurance information. I'm taking the truck to a mechanic I trust on Monday to have him give a good look behind the bumper and elsewhere to make sure nothing cracked/broke that will give me problems down the road. Anything wrong will be fixed at their expense, of course.

Here are some post Caddy-take-down pics. Notice no damage from their precious SUV (also notice the newly installed grill!):

Upon further inspection, I found a couple of really small scratches where the bumper was pushed in then came back out, rubbing against the bottom of the grill frame.

Suggestions about getting this fixed? (I know I could take it to the dealership and have their insurance billed... but if there's a simple/cheap solution, I'd rather avoid the pain in the ass of going that route.)

Here are some post Caddy-take-down pics. Notice no damage from their precious SUV (also notice the newly installed grill!):

Upon further inspection, I found a couple of really small scratches where the bumper was pushed in then came back out, rubbing against the bottom of the grill frame.

Suggestions about getting this fixed? (I know I could take it to the dealership and have their insurance billed... but if there's a simple/cheap solution, I'd rather avoid the pain in the ass of going that route.)

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Not sure, but maybe the same trick(blowdry and buff) that people do to buff out scratches on their interior might help here? I know there is a thread that I saw about that somewhere here.

repaint the whole bumper, file it, it will teach people to pay attention!!!

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That's what I was thinking. Some folks get off too easy, and something like this will remind them that the world doesn't revolve around them.

Of course, a few weeks ago, I had a kid at Discount Tire gouge out a bit of paint on my tailgate while he was lowering the spare. Kid didn't pay attention to the little screws that hold the lame "tire lowering tool" thing that comes in the Taco. Screw took the paint off...lame thing is that his boss, who is also a good friend of mine, asked him about it and he wouldn't own up. My buddy, who is the manager there, said the company would pay for a new tailgate or a get my tailgate repainted. It was only about an inch gash, so I just bought some touch up paint. My buddy took $30 off each Nitto Terra Grappler I bought (I bought 5) and some off the wheels. He was too generous and I couldn't let his store take a hit for this.

Or was she having a blond moment & thought she would move forward to create more room in the trunk. lol

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She wasn't blonde, but that's a good one! There was no real explanation. A lot of apologizing from her, and a lot of yelling from her husband (at her, of course). I still can't figure out why in the hell the truck was in drive.

I just dropped the truck off at the mechanic so they can give it a good once-over in the morning. On the one hand, I'm hoping they find nothing wrong... but in the other hand I'm holding her insurance information!

Good news: The mechanic said there were no mechanical problems he could find. I looked at the invoice and they checked just about everything. (Before you say he might have done nothing, my family and I have been going to this guy for years, and we put a great deal of trust in him.) He didn't charge me for the inspection.

Better news: I took it from the mechanic to the collision center at a local dealership and the estimate to fix the scratches is $364.80. (They would remove the bumper, paint the whole thing, replace the bumper.)

I've been unable to reach her insurance agent yet today, but I expect a call soon. Assuming they'll pay (and my insurace guy thinks they will), I think I have two choices:

Re-paint the bumper to make me 'as I was' prior to the collision

Leave the scratches and buy a bull-bar so that the next time it happens the other guy's car is completely f'ed up!

definitely file the claim. when a landscaper's lawnmower shot a rock through my window, i didnt make him pay for it cause insurance was gonna do it for free. it was an honest mistake by a hardworking blue collar guy, i wasn't gonna screw him out of his money. but what happened to you is different, it may have been an accident but it was also negligent. what if a child had been walking in between your two vehicles? plus, if they have an escalade then they can afford the insurance hit. they need to be taught a lesson on being negligent. i clicked on the bull bar option but i think you should get a full brush gurard

Grill guard would've helped a little, but they can bend. And anytime that plastic bumper flexes it can snap off head light and other plastic mounting tabs behind it. Replace that plastic tupperware lid with plate steel!

i clicked on the bull bar option but i think you should get a full brush guard

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Any in particular that you'd suggest? I'm back and forth b/w a bull bar and a full brush guard. I just got that grill and I think the full brush guard might be too much. I've always liked the looks of the Westin bull bars.

Use the money for an aftermarket bumper! Grill guard would've helped a little, but they can bend. And anytime that plastic bumper flexes it can snap off head light and other plastic mounting tabs behind it. Replace that plastic tupperware lid with plate steel!

Any in particular that you'd suggest? I'm back and forth b/w a bull bar and a full brush guard. I just got that grill and I think the full brush guard might be too much. I've always liked the looks of the Westin bull bars.

I haven't thought about this option before... any you would suggest?

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no specific model in mind, but i like the look of brush guards over bull bars. eventually i'll get one and i'll look into brands more at that point.

Any in particular that you'd suggest? I'm back and forth b/w a bull bar and a full brush guard. I just got that grill and I think the full brush guard might be too much. I've always liked the looks of the Westin bull bars.